Board Determines Open Enrollment Availability

The Mineral Point School Board held discussion and unanimously approved space available, as detailed below, for open enrollment for the 2018-19 school year. (Larry Steffes was absent from the meeting). Scroll past the video for more article text.

The state requires school districts to set their regular and special open enrollment caps in January of each year. Open enrolled students are those which do not reside in the Mineral Point Unified School District but choose to attend school here.

Regular Education Recommendations:

Kindergarten: Unlimited

1st Grade: Zero

2nd Grade: Nine

3rd Grade: Three

4th Grade: Eight

5th Grade: Two

6th Grade: Three

7th Grade: Zero

8th Grade: Zero

9th Grade: Fifteen

10th Grade: Unlimited

11th Grade: Unlimited

12th Grade: Unlimited

Special Education Recommendations: The majority of students with mild disabilities will find their needs met in a regular education classroom supported by special education staff. A few students with more substantial needs may require more support.

Space Availability to Students with Mild Disabilities: Below are the spaces available at each level for students who would successfully participate in a regular education classroom with a co-teaching special education teacher: Elementary School: Unlimited. Middle School and High School: students limited to five.

Space Availability in High-Needs Programs: Because of the current numbers of students with high needs, current staffing levels, contracted services, and space available, the District will not accept open enrollment applications for students with the following needs:

Students that require individual aide support.

Students who require individualized support for hearing impairments.

Students who require Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy.

All open enrollment applications, both regular and special ed, will be given consideration on a case-by-case basis. This is especially important for families looking to open enroll into Mineral Point Schools with students spanning multiple grade levels.

— Prior to the meeting, lots were drawn to see which order school board candidates would appear on the April ballot. Voters will cast a ballot for not more than three of the following (in this order): Nathan D. Chambers, Everett R. Lindsey, Glenn E. Kinch, and Aaron Dunn. There are four candidates for three seats.

— Board Policy has approximate numbers for class size for Pre K-3 to be approximately 15 and grades 4-5 to be approximately 20.

The Board unanimously approved revising the policy to reflect current practice consisting of approximately 18 students Pre K-3 and approximately 20 for grades 4-5.

Francois stated this does not bind the district to cap class sizes at 18 or 20 and is an approximate guideline.

The secure entrance at the elementary is scheduled to be installed over Spring Break.

The dust collector received final approval Monday. The final cost came in $89,000–$11,000 less than the maximum budgeted for. (Go to the 59 minute, 15 second mark)

— Co-chair of the Elementary School Planning Committee Leah McDonald updated the Board on the group’s first meeting. The ESPC is an ad-hoc committee of the school board formed to examine capacity and accessibility issues at the elementary. The group will then make recommendations to the Board in May.

— The Board requested a draft of a board meeting calendar recognizing key dates for action and reports delivered by month.

Francois pointed out some months are more full than others and the Board would need to be cognizant of other agenda items placed on the agenda during the fuller months.

Teachers would need to be ready in April to share rationale for the desired purchasing of items over $5,000 before the preliminary budget is looked at in May.

Some Board members felt this might be too late to hear from teachers.

The timeline will be discussed at a Policy Meeting later this month. (Go to the one hour, one minute, 30 second mark)

— Kelly Gundlach will be serving as the Wisconsin Association of School Boards Mineral Point Delegate at the State Education Convention in Milwaukee next week. The Board unanimously approved the resolutions she will vote on at the convention. (Go to the one hour, 24 minute mark)

— Tabled the first reading of policy 260 and 600 series, along with the Budget Development Timeline, to a Policy Committee Meeting later this month (Go to the one hour, 17 minute mark)

— Unanimously approved tabling the 200 policy series that was up for action to a Policy Committee meeting to be held later this month (Go to the one hour, 22 minute, 30 second mark)

— Approved the credit card statement and bills payable by a 5-0-1 vote with Basting abstaining. (Go to the one hour, 48 minute, 45 second mark)

— The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board is set for Monday, February 12 at 6:30 pm.